1 C1 neutral
To offer goods or services at a lower price than a competitor.
"The new supermarket chain cut under every local competitor to build its customer base quickly."
inseparable
cut under
C1 neutral inseparable transitive
To offer a lower price than a competitor; to cut beneath the surface of something.
In plain English
To charge less money than someone else to get their customers, or to make a cut below the surface.
What does "cut under" mean?
2 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 C1 neutral
To make a cut in a surface that goes below or beneath it.
"The sculptor cut under the marble slab to create the illusion of floating."
inseparable
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To cut below the surface or below a given level.
Actually means
To charge less money than someone else to get their customers, or to make a cut below the surface.
Usage tip
Less common than the standard verb 'undercut'. In business English, 'undercut' is strongly preferred. 'Cut under' is occasionally used in literal contexts for physical cutting below a surface.
Words that pair with "cut under"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
competitor rival price surface market rate
How to conjugate "cut under"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
cut under
I/you/we/they
3rd person
cuts under
he/she/it
Past simple
cut under
yesterday
Past participle
cut under
have + pp
-ing form
cutting under
continuous
Hear "cut under" in the wild
Listen to native speakers using "cut under" in real YouTube videos — click a clip to watch it on Looplines.
Keep exploring
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